U.S. patent number 8,089,760 [Application Number 12/590,896] was granted by the patent office on 2012-01-03 for notebook computer.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Acer Incorporated. Invention is credited to Yeh Yi-Chang.
United States Patent |
8,089,760 |
Yi-Chang |
January 3, 2012 |
Notebook computer
Abstract
A notebook computer includes a base; a top cover pivotally
coupled via a first rotary shaft to the base and including a
display panel disposed at an inner side thereof; a first plate
member provided on an outer side of the top cover, a third plate
member pivotally coupled at an end to the base via a second rotary
shaft; and a second plate member pivotally coupled at an end to the
first plate member and slidably coupled at an opposing end to the
third plate member, such that the second and the third plate member
are displaceable relative to each other. When the top cover is
pivotally turned to an operation position, the second end of the
second plate member is pushed against the third plate member to
restrict the top cover and the third plate member from turning
further, and hold the top cover to the operation position.
Inventors: |
Yi-Chang; Yeh (Hsichih,
TW) |
Assignee: |
Acer Incorporated (Taipei
County, Hsichih, TW)
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Family
ID: |
43588477 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/590,896 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20110038119 A1 |
Feb 17, 2011 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Aug 11, 2009 [TW] |
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98127029 A |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.59;
248/917; 248/166; 361/679.56; 361/679.55; 312/223.2; 361/679.27;
312/223.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
1/1681 (20130101); G06F 1/1637 (20130101); Y10S
248/917 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
1/16 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;361/679.59 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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249084 |
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Nov 2004 |
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TW |
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343197 |
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Oct 2008 |
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TW |
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Primary Examiner: Lee; Jinhee
Assistant Examiner: Edwards; Anthony Q
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hudak, Shunk & Farine Co.
LPA
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A notebook computer, comprising: a base; a top cover having a
display panel disposed on an inner side thereof, and movably
connecting to the base via a first rotary shaft to pivotally turn
about the first rotary shaft relative to the base between a closed
position and an operation position; a first plate member being
provided on an outer side of the top cover; a second plate member
being pivotally turnably coupled at a first end to the first plate
member; and a third plate member being pivotally turnably coupled
at a proximal end to the base via a second rotary shaft, the second
plate member being slidably coupled at an opposing second end to
the third plate member, such that the second plate member and the
third plate member are displaceable relative to each other; and
there being a height difference between the first rotary shaft and
the second rotary shaft; wherein while the top cover is at the
operation position, the second end of the second plate member is
pushed against the third plate member to prevent the top cover and
the third plate member from turning further, and the second plate
member and the third plate member cooperatively support the top
cover to the operation position.
2. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
plate member and the top cover together define a accommodating
space therebetween, and the second plate member being received in
the accommodating space when the top cover is in the closed
position.
3. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third
plate member is provided with two guide rails on an inner face, and
the second plate member includes a guide bar; the guide bar is
coupled at one side to the second end of the second plate member,
and two ends of the guide bar are respectively insertably disposed
into the two guide rails on the third plate member, such that the
guide bar is slidable along the two guide rails, allowing the
second plate member to slide relative to the third plate
member.
4. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
plate member includes a clamping element arranged for clamping onto
an end of the top cover close to the first rotary shaft.
5. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
plate member includes a torsional spring disposed at a pivot joint
of the second and the first plate member; and a value of torsional
force stored in the torsional spring is variable with a position of
the second plate member relative to the first plate member.
6. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
torsional spring has a maximum value of torsional force when the
top cover is held in the closed position, and is therefore helpful
in turning the top cover to the operation position.
7. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third
plate member is provided with a buffer pad on an outer face; and
the buffer pad being pressed against a working surface when the top
cover is turned to the operation position.
8. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the buffer
pad is made of a rubber material.
9. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a fourth plate member being provided on one side of the base close
to the first rotary shaft and including a shaft hole; and the
second rotary shaft being received in the shaft hole to thereby
pivotally turnably connect the third plate member to the fourth
plate member.
10. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fourth
plate member is integrally formed with the base.
11. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
plate member is integrally formed with the top cover.
12. The notebook computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
display panel is a touch panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a notebook computer, and more
particularly to a notebook computer that is provided with plate
members to stably support a top cover of the notebook computer to
an operation position for use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Following the progress in different technological fields and in
response to the consumers' demands for mobile computing, a notebook
computer that allows a user to carry around has been developed for
use at any place, such as at home, in the office, in a coffee shop,
at the airport, on an airplane or on a bus.
Meanwhile, the quickly developed touch screen has been gradually
applied to personal digital assistants (PDAs) and tablet computers.
To facilitate convenient working on a tablet computer through
touching the screen, the tablet computer usually includes a base, a
touch screen, and a twin-rotating-axis structure for pivotally
connecting the touch screen to the base. The twin-rotating-axis
structure allows the touch screen to pivotally rotate relative to
the base horizontally or vertically. When a user wants to operate
the tablet computer, the touch screen can be turned about the
twin-rotating-axis structure to face away from the base and locate
thereon. That is, the base supports the touch screen thereon, so
that the touch screen allows the user to touch it without causing
wobbling.
However, in the case of a prior art notebook computer, the base and
the display panel thereof are usually pivotally turnably coupled to
each other via one single rotary shaft. This type of notebook
computer is designed to open and close as a clamshell. When the
clamshell notebook computer is provided with a touch display panel,
the following problems will be encountered: when the display panel
of the clamshell notebook computer is turned to an operation
position, the center of gravity of the whole computer will move
from a center of the base to one side of thereof or even to a point
out of the base, bringing the whole notebook computer into an
unbalanced and unstable condition. When a user touches the display
panel with fingers or a touch pen, the force applied by the user's
touch to the display panel on the unstable notebook computer will
undesirably bring the computer to wobble, preventing the user from
smoothly working on the notebook computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a notebook computer that is provided with additional plate
members to form a linkage, which is movable along with a top cover
of the notebook computer when the top cover is pivotally turned
relative to a base from a closed position to an operation position,
preventing the notebook computer from wobbling while being
manipulated by a user.
To achieve the above and other objects, the notebook computer
according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a
base, a top cover, a first rotary shaft, a second rotary shaft, and
a first, a second, and a third plate member. The top cover is
provided on an inner side with a display panel, and is pivotally
coupled via the first rotary shaft to the base, so that the top
cover is turnable relative to the base between a closed position
and an opened operation position. The first plate member is
attached to an outer side of the top cover, the third plate member
is pivotally coupled at an end to the base via the second rotary
shaft, and the second plate member is pivotally coupled at a first
end to the first plate member and slidably coupled at an opposing
second end to the third plate member, such that the second and the
third plate member are displaceable relative to each other. A
height difference exists between the first and the second rotary
shaft. When the top cover is pivotally turned from the closed
position to the operation position to expose the display panel for
use, the second end of the second plate member is pressed against
the third plate member to restrict the top cover and the third
plate member from turning further, and the second and the third
plate member cooperatively support the top cover to the operation
position.
In brief, the notebook computer according to the present invention
provides one or more of the following advantages:
(1) The second and third plate members cooperatively stably support
and hold the display panel of the notebook computer to the
operation position, preventing the display panel from wobbling and
displacing when a user touches the display panel while working on
the notebook computer;
(2) The second and third plate members are coupled to each other
and displaceable relative to each other at the same time, allowing
the two plate members to automatically move to an extended position
for stably supporting the display panel when the display panel is
turned to the operation position; and
(3) The second and third plate members are coupled to each other
and displaceable relative to each other at the same time, allowing
the two plate members to automatically move to a collapsed position
when the display panel is turned to the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The structure and the technical means adopted by the present
invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings,
wherein
FIG. 1 is an assembled rear bottom perspective view of a notebook
computer according to a first embodiment of the present invention
with a top cover thereof in a half opened position;
FIG. 2 is a front top perspective view of the notebook computer of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front top perspective view of the notebook computer of
FIG. 2 with the top cover thereof in a fully opened position;
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the notebook computer of FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a rear top perspective view of the notebook computer of
FIG. 1 with the top cover thereof in a fully closed position;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a torsional spring for a
notebook computer according to a second embodiment of the present
invention, as viewed at a position corresponding to that taken
along line A-A of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the torsional spring for
the notebook computer according to the second embodiment of the
present invention, as viewed at a position corresponding to that
taken along line B-B of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described with some preferred
embodiments thereof. For the purpose of easy to understand,
elements that are the same in the preferred embodiments are denoted
by the same reference numerals.
Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are rear bottom and front top
perspective views, respectively, of a notebook computer according
to a first embodiment of the present invention with a top cover
thereof in a half opened position; and to FIG. 3 that is a front
top perspective view of the notebook computer of FIG. 2 with the
top cover thereof in a fully opened position. As shown, the
notebook computer according to the first embodiment of the present
invention includes a base 1, a top cover 2, a first rotary shaft
22, a first plate member 3, a second plate member 4, a third plate
member 5, a second rotary shaft 51 (see FIG. 5), and a fourth plate
member 7. The base 1 is adapted to contact with an external flat
surface, such as a desk top on which the notebook computer is
positioned.
The top cover 2 has a display panel 21 disposed on an inner side
thereof, and is movably coupled to the base 1 via the first rotary
shaft 22 to pivotally turn relative to the base 1 between a closed
position and an operation or opened position. In the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 21 is a
touch panel allowing a user to control the notebook computer by
touching thereon.
The first plate member 3 is disposed on an outer side of the top
cover 2 and can be in the form of a hollow frame, such that an
inner periphery of the first plate member 3 and the top cover 2
together define a shallow recess to serve as an accommodating space
31. The first plate member 3 includes a clamping element 32 (see
FIG. 4) and a pivot-shaft hole 33. The clamping element 32 is
clamped on an end 23 of the top cover 2 close to the first rotary
shaft 22. The first plate member 3 can be integrally formed with
the top cover 2 to save additional cost of making a mold for
forming the first plate member 3. The pivot-shaft hole 33 is
disposed at a corner on the inner periphery of the first plate
member 3, and the second plate member 4 is pivotally coupled to the
first plate member 3 via the pivot-shaft hole 33.
The second plate member 4 has a first end pivotally coupled to the
first plate member 3, and includes a pivot shaft 41 and a guide bar
42. The pivot shaft 41 is coupled to the first end of the second
plate member 4, and has a length longer than a width of the second
plate member 4 to thereby sidewardly project from one lateral edge
of the second plate member 4. With these arrangements, the pivot
shaft 41 can be held to the pivot-shaft hole 33. The guide bar 42
is transversely coupled at one side to an opposing second end of
the second plate member 4 and has a length longer than the width of
the second plate member 4, such that two ends of the guide bar 42
are sidewardly projected from two lateral edges of the second plate
member 4.
The third plate member 5 is provided on an inner face near two
lateral edges with two guide rails 52. The two ends of the guide
bar 42 on the second plate member 4 are correspondingly slidably
extended into the two guide rails 52 on the third plate member 5,
so that the second plate member 4 is slidable relative to the third
plate member 5 when the latter is turned. That is, the second and
the third plate member 4, 5 can displace relative to each other
when the third plate member 5 is turned. The third plate member 5
has a proximal end coupled to the second rotary shaft 51 for
pivotally coupling to the base 1.
The fourth plate member 7 is provided on one side of the base 1
close to the first rotary shaft 22 and includes a shaft hole 71
(see FIG. 5). The second rotary shaft 51 is received in the shaft
hole 71 to thereby pivotally couple the third plate member 5 to the
fourth plate member 7. Since there is a height difference 61
between the first rotary shaft 22 and the second rotary shaft 51,
as shown in FIG. 5, the first plate member 3, the second plate
member 4, the third plate member 5, and the fourth plate member 7
together form a four-bar linkage to move at the same time. In the
illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the fourth plate
member 7 can be integrally formed on one side of the base 1 to save
additional cost of making a mold for forming the fourth plate
member 7.
Further, the third plate member 5 is provided on an outer face
thereof with a buffer pad 53. When the top cover 2 is turned to the
operation position, the buffer pad 53 is pressed against a working
surface 62 (see FIG. 4) to protect the outer face of the third
plate member 5 against scratches due to frictional contact with or
collision with the working surface 62. In the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention, the buffer pad 53 can be made
of a rubber material without being limited thereto.
FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing the notebook computer of
the present invention in a fully opened position for operation.
When the top cover 2 of the notebook computer is turned to the
operation position, the second rotary shaft 51 (see FIG. 5) is
brought to rotate simultaneously, so that the third plate member 5
is automatically turned away from the outer side of the top cover 2
to rest on the external working surface 62, such as a desk top on
which the notebook computer is positioned. Meanwhile, the guide bar
42, which is originally disposed at an end of the guide rails 52
closer to the proximal end of the third plate member 5 when the top
cover 2 is closed onto the base 1, is brought to slide along the
guide rails 52 toward the other end thereof farther from the
proximal end of the third plate member 5 when the top cover 2 is
turned away from the base 1 for operation. When the guide bar 42
reaches at the other end of the guide rails 52, the second plate
member 4 is held in a position with the guide bar 42 pushing
against the third plate member 5, restricting the top cover 2 and
the third plate member 5 from turning further. At this point, the
second and the third plate member 4, 5 cooperatively support the
top cover 2 to the operation position for use.
FIG. 5 shows the notebook computer of FIG. 1 in a fully closed
state. Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5 at the same time. In the
process of turning the top cover 2 reversely from the operation
position as shown in FIG. 4 to the closed position as shown in FIG.
5, the second rotary shaft 51 is brought to turn reversely,
bringing the third plate member 5 to turn reversely toward the
outer side of the top cover 2. Meanwhile, the guide bar 42, which
is originally disposed at the other end of the guide rails 52
farther from the proximal end of the third plate member 5 when the
top cover 2 is turned away from the base 1 to the operation
position, is brought to slide along the guide rails 52 toward the
end of the guide rails 52 closer to the proximal end of the third
plate member 5 when the top cover 2 is closed onto the base 1. When
the guide bar 42 reaches at the end of the guide rails 52 closer to
the proximal end of the third plate member 5, the second plate
member 4 is moved into the position of being received in the
accommodating space 31, allowing the third plate member 5 to flatly
bear on the first plate member 3, which is attached to the outer
side of the top cover 2. Therefore, the notebook computer in the
fully closed state has an integral, compact, and fashionable
appearance.
When a user touches the touch panel 21 on the top cover 2 with
fingers or a touch pen, since the second and the third plate member
4, 5 cooperatively support the top cover 2 to the operation
position, the notebook computer is protected against any unstable
state and wobble caused by the force applied by the user while
touching the touch panel 21. Thus, the notebook computer according
to the present invention provides enhanced operation accuracy and
good touch during operation.
A notebook computer according to a second embodiment of the present
invention further includes a torsional spring 43 provided on the
second plate member 4. Since the notebook computers in the second
embodiment and the first embodiment are generally structurally
similar to each other with the only difference in the element, that
is, the torsional spring 43, for mounting the second plate member 4
to the first plate member 3, only the torsional spring 43 is
described herein while all other structures of the second
embodiment that are similar to the first embodiment are not
repeatedly described. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the
torsional spring 43 as viewed at a position corresponding to that
taken along line A-A of FIG. 4; and FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional
view of the torsional spring 43 as viewed at a position
corresponding to that taken along line B-B of FIG. 5. Please refer
to FIGS. 6 and 7 along with FIGS. 4 and 5. The torsional spring 43
has two projected ends, and is fitted in the pivot-shaft hole 33
with one of the two projected ends fixed to the first plate member
3 and the other projected end engaged with the pivot shaft 41. The
value of torsional force stored in the torsional spring 43 is
variable with the displacement of the second plate member 4
relative to the first plate member 3.
When the top cover 2 is turned from the closed position as shown in
FIG. 5 to the operation position as shown in FIG. 4, the torsional
spring 43 releases the stored torsional force, so that the
torsional force of the torsional spring 43 lowers from a maximum
value to a minimum value. At this point, the guide bar 42 is
assisted by the torsional force released from the torsional spring
43 to slide from the end of the guide rails closes to the proximal
end of the third plate member 5 to the other end of the guide
rails, and the top cover 2 is held to the operation position
relative to the base 1.
The present invention has been described with some preferred
embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and
modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out
without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention
that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *